Cremation is a way of respectfully caring for someone's body after they die by using very high heat to turn it into ashes. Instead of burial, where a body is placed in the ground, cremation transforms the body into a fine powder called cremated remains or ashes.

Different cultures and religions have practiced cremation for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans used cremation, and it remains common in Hindu and Buddhist traditions today. In modern America, families choose cremation for various reasons: some find it meaningful, some appreciate that it requires less land than traditional burial, and some like that the ashes can be kept in a special container called an urn or scattered in a place that was meaningful to the person who died.

A building where cremation takes place is called a crematorium.

When families face the death of someone they love, cremation offers one way to honor that person's memory. Some families hold memorial services before or after cremation, sharing stories and celebrating the person's life. The choice between cremation and burial is deeply personal, often reflecting family traditions, religious beliefs, or what the person who died had requested.